The morning fog has all but lifted to the outermost atmosphere leaving in its stead a dewy touch with a light breeze smelling of baked goods and prepared food readily placed out for the market. Although it was still too early for the normal bustle of the streets, the two began their walk through the long alley of shops and vendors.

“Hey, so what took you so long?”Kay asked as he began stretching his arms around his back, relieving the stiffness caused by the uncomfortable chair.

“Oh sorry, I ran into Reno… he made me carry some fruit to his stand.” 

“I see, well then--I forgive you.” They took a moment’s pause as they both shared a shiver down their spine at the thought of Reno.

“So what’s our job for today?”, Ven reaches down with his hand to his back pocket to feel the folded paper still resting in its spot. He took a sigh of relief, being thankful that he hadn’t lost it. 

“I found a good second-ranked one this time. It’s none of the labor crap we’ve been doing for the past months, there have been sightings of a low-level goblin in the Byran Forest. All we have to do is take it down, simple enough right.” “Oh, really that’s great! Should we go back to the house to get our gear?” 

“Yeah, let’s head there now.”

They continue their walk down the marketplace when a sense of unrest fills the atmosphere. The two noticed a group of village people that had gathered in the nearby courtyard, arguing in secrecy amongst each other. “Hey Ven should we go check it out?”

“It’s probably nothing too important, let's just go” as Ven began picking up the pace. Kay turned his attention to Ven who was beginning to gain some distance between them. Kay starts to feel a bit of suspicion in Ven’s actions as he attempts to catch up. They walked their usual route through the back alleys. The cats that dug through the rubbage all but knew them as they did not attempt to budge as they walked past. Most windows still closed and shuttered down in the housing complexes they were walking through.

Their usual route, nothing but unusual taking them under cramped spaces through holes in fences past local watchman’s houses as they ducked their heads when passing by their windows, to strategically placed rubble allowing them to use it as their advantage in jumping fences. They finally reached their final hurdle, which would take them straight to their desired room in Madam Peggie’s Homestay. 

Madam Peggie holds the title of the oldest business owner in all of Papillion.  She runs the Three Strays Homestay, the most affordable Inn that caters mostly to travelers and young adults that hope to find themselves as the madam landlord idealizes in her statement. Although, being the cheapest comes with drawbacks, and one is the number of rooms offered out for rent.  A whopping three rooms within the complex.

Ven and Kay rent one out leaving the other two available. The second drawback is the lack of luster in amenities. The seasons treat it poorly as the summers make it unbearable with no air conditioning and the winters leave it cold with no heating. Short circuit breaks and pipe clogging are common occurrences. Just those facts alone scare off any potential renters. Yet there are some bright sides, like the beautiful garden that decorates the back.

The colored hydrangeas and ivy seem to almost absorb the outside, highlighting the charming dinner table in the center. The overgrowing willow tree drapes its leaves over the center providing shade when needed and cover from outsiders. Madam Peggie calls it her “secret garden”. It’s a haven for the local stray cats as well as they go there in hopes of Peggie filling their morning bowls.